Improvement in fence-posts



0.13.136 WOLFE.

Fence-Post.

' Pafented Nov. 11,1879.

m'fizeaesv U NI'TED? STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. DE WOLFE, OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.

IMPROVEME NT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,449, dated November11, 1879; application filed o August 26, 1879.

10 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. DE WOLFE, of Michigan City, in the countyof La Porte and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fence-Posts and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, whichwillenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to that class of fenceposts specially adapted tosupport wire fences, employed where the ground is free from stones orother solid obstructing substances.

It consists in the peculiar construction of the base and post, and inthe manner of securing the wire to the post, all of which will behereinafter fully explained, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the post and its baseconstructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 shows the base and postdetached, and also shows the peculiar form of such base. Fig. 3 showsthe method of attaching the wire to the post.

a is the hollow post, made, by preference, from ordinary gas-pipe; Itsupper end is closed by 'a removable plug, a, to exclude water, while itslower end is left open and slides down over the upper end of the base,hereinafter described. It has formed in its side the series of cross orhorizontal slots a within which the cable or wire b is placed, and inits lower end is formed the L-shaped slot a", which may be partially orwholly covered by a suitably-formed cap, for the exclusion of water orearth.

The wire b, after it is pushed back into the slot a is held by astraight rod, 0, pushed down between it and the inside of the post, asshown in Figs. land 3.

The rod 0 is made long enough to serve as a fastening for all the wiresemployed in the fence, and is inserted from the top of the post. Itmakes a substantial fastening, and is easily applied or removed.

The bar or rod 0 should have a small loop or hook turned on its upperend to give ready means for holding it in the hand when it is beinginserted or withdrawn from the post.

61 is the base, composed of the head d, projecting shoulder or rim d andthe inverted conical-shaped point d all formed together in one solidpiece.

The head d fits snugly in the lower end of the post a, and it isprovided in its side with a projecting pin, 01 which is arranged toenter the L-slot a and lock the post to the base.

The rim d projects outward equally in all directions from, and forms asubstantial rest for, the foot of the post a.

The conical part d is inverted, as shown, having its base on, and ofabout equal diameter with, the rim 01 It is tapered to a point, so thatit may be readily driven into the earth. It is divided by the twocross-slots d arranged, preferably, at right angles to each other, andextending upward to the rim a as shown.

Within the slots 61 I place the wings e, the upper ends of which abutfirmly against the under side of the rim d The wings are held in placeby any suitable means, such as soldering, or by pins, or by any otherwellknown mechanical fastening. The wings are tapered slightly to theirlower ends, so that they will more readily cut their way into the earth.

This post is readily set up. The base at is driven into the earth bypounding on the head d. If the instrument for driving be made of metal,a wooden cap, fitting over the head d, should be first placed on thebase to prevent the said head from becoming crushed. The conical pointreadily enters the earth, which is compacted outward, making a firmsurrounding earth casing. The base is driven till the rim (1 rest-sfirmly on the surface of the ground. The wings e prevent lateral saggingof the post. After the base is set, the post a is placed on the head dand looked, as hereinbefore explained.

What I claim is-- The herein-described post, consisting of the rv inbase d, provided with the round head (1, pin In teslimony that I claimthe foregoing as d, and cone-shaped bottom d having crossmy own I aflixmy signature in presence of two slots (1", the Wings 0, fixed in theslots d, and witnesses.

the top a, having in its lower end a circular CHARLES 13. DE WOLFE.opening and the Lshaped slot a and fixed Witnesses: to the based,substantiall as and for the mr' JONATHAN SNOOK,

pose set forth. J. F. TAYLOR.

